England close in for the kill
England’s gains yesterday were not ill-gotten
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
England’s gains yesterday were not ill-gotten. Ten wickets fell in the day, which is a fruitful harvest in Test cricket, but, unlike at Lord’s, they had to work hard at times for their rewards. At least by extending their own first innings past the 300 mark, West Indies clawed back a measure of self-respect, even though it was not enough to prevent Andrew Strauss from enforcing the follow-on in consecutive Tests, writes Mike Atherton in the Times.
West Indies, or more pertinently their captain, Chris Gayle, launched a robust riposte as they followed on 259 runs behind yesterday evening ... When the mood takes him and Gayle smoulders like Soufrière, only Virender Sehwag has the capacity to destroy the new ball as does he. His second ball here, from James Anderson, was blasted instinctively over long on for six, just as Andrew Flintoff had been in Jamaica, writes Mike Selvey in the Guardian.
Yesterday, we saw the finished product, or at least a product as complete as time allows. Stuart Broad's Test schooling is complete. What lies ahead is Australia and the fiercest examination of his career, writes David Hopps in the Guardian.
There was enough in Broad's pre-lunch scalping of Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan to suggest that the sun will shine often enough this summer on Broad's side of the street. He cracked the old crab Chanderpaul with an excellent off-cutter, delivered at 80mph from around the wicket, and then, in his persistent desire to make things happen, indulged in a well-timed bouncer or two against Sarwan.
It may be premature to hang out the bunting, never mind organise a parade in an open-top double-decker. But evidence is growing that England have found a bowling strike force to worry Australia, writes Stephen Brenkley in the Independent.
It's the waiting that is so agonising. Ostensibly Tim Bresnan, stout Tyke, has coped well with his peculiar Test career so far. But even for the most phlegmatic and down-to-earth of cricketers it must all be a trial at the moment. He is the actor without many lines, the grave digger to James Anderson's Hamlet, writes Vic Marks in the Guardian.
At Lord's, Bresnan bowled seven wicketless overs, was on the wrong end of a dodgy lbw decision, held a fine catch and pocketed the win money. At Chester-le-Street the pattern is all too similar. His batting skills were not needed and there was no doubt whom Andrew Strauss regarded as his fourth seamer. So Bresnan patiently waited his turn. He appeared calm on the outside; inside he must have been aching to make an impact.
George Binoy is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo